Electrical indicator



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-8heet 1. I

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

No. 331,650. Patented Deo. 1, 1885.

WlTNESSES MENTOR W065? By his .flttorneys,

6N0 Model.) 2 sneak-sheen 2.

0. H. POND.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR. no 331,650. Patented 60. 1, 1885-.

Fi a 'Fi g. S-

IV I

WITNESSES: MENTOR: MW K0. "(3M M11? v By his .flttar 'neys, 1

N. FETER$ Pho'u-Ulhognbhur, Wishingizm, D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT @EEicE.

CHESTER H. POND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,650, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed August 12, 1884. Serial No. 140,331. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHESTER H. Penn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Electrical Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for pointing out or displaying one number or other character of a series, to be operated electrically from a signaling-point or transmittingstation. This indicator is designed most particularly as 'a fire-alarm indicator for use in enginehouscs in those places where but a limited number of fire-alarm boxes are included in one circuit.

The accompanying drawings show an indieator proportioned for a range of twentythree characters. XVhen a greater number is to be used, the additional characters may be arranged on a second indicator in a distinct circuit.

Figure l is a front elevation, with the face or dial partly broken away to show the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism removed, being partly in section. Fig.3 is a vertical section out along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section out along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows the mechanism before operation. The other figures show it after having completed an operation, and before being restored to the starting-point.

In Fig. 1 let A designate the outer case, and B the dial, which is made similar to a clockface, but with the numbers from blank and l to 23 marked around it one twenty-fourth of a revolution apart. Gis the hand or pointer, which normally stands at the blank or star.

The indicator hangs on the wall of the enginehouse or other place, and in connection with it is an alarm hell or gong. \Vhen a number is to be indicated, the handjumps rapidly from one space or number to the next repeatedly, until the desired number is reached, when it stops, and at the same time the alarmbell is sounded to attract attention to the indicator. This alarm-bell may be a rheotome,

or it maybe a large gong, which is struck but a single blow, as preferred. Then the hand reaches its final position, it shortly becomes locked there, so that the indicator will not be deranged by a second signal following closely on the first. vVhen the attendant has read the number pointed out, he will restore the apparatus to its original position by pulling down a button, D, which turns the hand back to its starting-point.

I will now describe the indicating mechanism within the ease.

- E is an electro-magnet, arranged in the linecircuit, (or in a local circuit,) the wires on a of which terminate at binding-posts b b. The armature e of this magnet is mounted on an armaturedever, F, which is fulcrumed at its upper end and drawn away from the magnet by a retracting-springf, and the lower end of which is formed with an escapement-anchor, F", bearing two pallets, c c, and formed also with a downwardly-projecting finger or tooth, d. The pallets of the anchor F engage the teeth of an escapement-wheel, G, which is fixed on an arbor, g, the front end of which bears the hand G. On the arbor g is fixed also a pinion, h, which meshes with a vertically-sliding rack, H, the weight of which imparts to the spindle and hand a tendency to rotate to the right. Normally the circuit is closed, the magnet E attracts its armature, and the right-hand pallet c is engaged with the escapement-wheel G, holding it stationary, with the hand pointing to the blank.

When a signal is to be transmitted, the circuit it first broken, whereupon the lever 11 v1- brates to the right, the wheel G is momentarily liberated and rotates one twenty-fourth of a revolution or one-half tooth, when it is arrested by the left-hand pallet c, and simultaneously the hand (3 moves one space to the figure 1. If this is the figure to be indicated, the hand will remain there; but if some other figure is to be pointed out, the movement of the hand will be continued by again closing the circuit, breaking it, closing it, 8.50., until the sum of the closures and breaks of the circuit equals the number desired to be indicated, whereupon the hand, which has advanced intermittently from one number to another, finally stops at that number.

The parts thus far described constitute the indicating mechanism, which in itself is not new with me. It is obvious that if this mechanism alone were used any subsequent breaks or closures of the circuit would derange the operation of the instrument by causing the hand to advance beyond the proper figure. For instance, if two signals are transmitted in close succession, the indicator would then add the two numbers together and indicate their sum, (if it did not exceed twenty-three,) thus giving a deceptive indication; or, in case to transmit the desired number (as 1, 3, 5, 8rd,) should require that the circuit be left broken, it would be necessary soon to close the circuit again to prepare it for the transmission of some other signal, and this would derange the indication. To obviate the possibility of any such derangement, a locking mechanism is necessary.

I will now proceed to describe the particular locking mechanism which I have devised, and which differs materially from those heretofore used.

On the top of the rack H is fixed an arm, H, which extends to the right. Behind this is arranged a follower, I, which consists of a vertically-sliding rod, on the upper part of which is fixed a rack, 43, which meshes with a pinion, j, 011 an arbor, k. The pinion j is made fast to the hub of a ratchet-wheel, J, and both turn freely on the arbor It. Back of the ratchet-wheel J is a gear-wheel, K, which is fast on the arbor k, and meshing with this is a pinion, Z, on the arbor of a fan or flier, L. The wheel K bears a pawl, m, which engages the teeth of the ratchet-wheel J. The weight of the follower I tends to rotate the pinion j and ratchet-wheel J in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and to carry the gear K with them through the medium of the pawl m, and thus rotate the fan L. The rotation of the fan serves to govern the speed and compel the follower I to descend slowly and uniformly. When the parts are in their normal positions, as in Fig. 1, the follower I is elevated and is upheld through the gears by the rotation of the fanL being prevented. This is effected by a pin, a, on the end of arm H coming against one of the wings of the fan. \Vhen the indicator commences its operation, the rack H descends, and at its first downward movement it lowers the pin a far enough to clear the fan and free it. The fan then revolves and permits the follower I to descend; but its downward movement is slower than that of the rack H. The follower I bears on its front face, above the arm H, an inclined plane or wedge, M, and when the indicating mechanism finally stops this wedge soon overtakes the arm H and wedges itself in behind the arm, Fig. 3, until the descent of the follower is stopped. In so doing it presses the arm H forward, as shown in Fig. 4, the rack H being mounted loosely enough to permit of this slight movement. Behind the other parts front of the arm H.

the extreme travel of the arm H, so that the end '.of the latter is always just behind it. When the arm H is pressed forward by the wedge M, its end in moving forward encounters the arm q, and thus presses forward the lever 1?. The finger don the anchor F extends down just in front of the lever P, and on the lever is fixed a tooth, 1", which is arranged just behind the mid-stroke position of the finger as the anchor vibrates. Thus when the anchor is at the left this tooth r stands at the right of the finger d, and when the anchor is at the right the tooth is at the left of the finger. \Vhen the lever 11 is pressed back, its tooth 1* stands out of the way of the finger d and does not interfere with it; but when the lever is pressed forward as described the tooth ris brought forward into the path of the finger, so that it stands in its way and prevents any further vibration of the anchor. Thus the indicating device is securely locked by automatic means. This locking deviceis the most important feature of my invention.

I am aware that locking devices have been used before on electrical indicators, as witness my Patents No. 232,415, dated September 21, 1880, and No. 252,897, dated January 31, 1882, and also Patent No. 27 3,563, dated March 6, 18.83; but so far as I am aware they have always been applied to the indicating part or to a scape-wheel or rack geared thereto, and not to the vibrating anchor or pallet.

It is obvious that various mechanisms other than that shown may be devised for operating this escapement-lock. All that is essential is that the vibrating part of the escapement (the anchor) be provided with a projection, that a tooth be arranged to be moved into the way of this projection, and that means he provided for so moving this tooth through the action of a follower, which is'released after the indicating mechanism follows some moving part thereof, and finally overtakes such part after the final stoppage of the latter.

After the apparatus has completed its op; eration it is set back to the starting-point by means of the restoring device, which Iwill now describe. The pull-knob D is fixed on the end of a wire which engages one arm of a lever, R, the other arm of which takes under and lifts a vertically-sliding rod, S, having an arm, S, projecting from it. On this arm is fixed a spring, 8. As the arm S and spring 8 ascend the spring 8 first encounters the bottom end of the follower I and lifts the follower sufficiently to free the wedge M from the arm H. Then the end of arm S strikes an adjustable stop, it, on the rack H, and both rack H and follower I are lifted together. The lifting of the rack H rotates the arbor gand turns the hand 0 back to. the starting-point, and the escapement-wheel in turning backward vibrates the anchor and with it the armature. The attraction of the magnet would IOC interfere with this vibration were it not for the fact that the coils of the magnet are first short-circuited by means of a switch, T. This switch consists of a spring, a, and contactscrew c, which are united to wires 20 it, leading from the opposite terminals of the coils. The rod S has an arm projecting behind it, which when the rod is down, as shown, bears down the spring a, and keeps it out of contact with the screw u,- but when the rod S is first lifted the spring is freed and rises into contact with the screw. The raising of the follower I rotates the pinion j and ratchetwheel J backward, the latter slipping past the pawl m. When the rack H is fully lifted, the pin it on its arm H stands in the way of the fan L again, as at first.

The alarm-bell is operated by means of a distinct circuit connected to binding'posts as m, the wires from which terminate, respectively, at a spring, V, and contact-screw y. Before the operation the spring V is upheld by the follower I, so that it is out of contact with screw and the bell-circuit is broken; but when the apparatus starts the descent of the follower drops this spring onto the screw and closes the bell-circuit, thus ringing the bell.

Instead of the hand 0 and dial B, a rotating disk may be used having the figures marked upon it and exposing one at a time through an aperture in a screen before it.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electrical indicator, the combination, with the electro-magnet, the escapementanchor connected to the movable member thereof and vibrated thereby, and the escapement wheel, of a locking device, substantially as described, operating independently of the magnet and adapted to act upon the cessation of the operation of the escapement and engage and lock the escapement-anchor, thereby preventing further vibration thereof and further advance of the indicating mechanism after the latter has reached the proper character, and rendering impotent any further excitation of the magnet, substantially as specified.

2. In an electrical indicator, the combination, with the electro-magnet, the escapementanchor connected to the movable member thereof and vibrated thereby, and the escapeinent-wheel, of a projection on said anchor, a movable locking-tooth adapted to be moved into the path of said projection on either side thereof, according to the position of the anchor, and suitable locking mechanism, substantially as specified, independent of the electromagnet, for so moving the locking-tooth upon the completion of the operation of the escapement, and thereby locking the anchor and preventing any further advance of the indicating mechanism, as set forth.

3. In an electrical indicator, the combination of the electro -magnet, the escapementanchor vibrated thereby, the escapementwheel, a projection on said anchor, a lockingtooth adapted to be moved into the path of said projection, a locking-lever bearing said tooth, a follower adapted to be released by the movement of the escapement and to follow the indicating mechanism and overtake the same after its final stoppage, and means inter posed between said follower and locking-lever whereby upon the stoppage of the former the latter shall be moved with its lockingtooth engaging and locking the escapementanchor, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of magnet E, armature e, anchor F, having projection d, escapementwheel G, rack H, its arm H, follower I, wedge M thereon, locking-lever P, having arm q, and locking-tooth r, mounted on said lever opposite the mid-stroke of projection d, and adapted when the lever is moved to enter the path of said projection and so look the anchor, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of magnet E, armature e, anchor F, escapement-wheel G, rack H, its arm H, and a locking mechanism, substantially as described, adapted to be operated by the deflection of said arm, with a follower, I, adapted to descend after the rack H, and a wedge, 'M, on said follower, adapted to enter against and deflect the arm H, and thereby lock the indicating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electrical indicator, the combination, with the magnet E, the escapement-anchor F, the escapement-wheel G, and the rack H, having a projecting arm, H, of a follower, I, a rapidly-revolving fan, L, geared to said follower and adapted to control its descent, and a projection on the arm H, adapted when it is elevated to intercept said fan and prevent its rotation, and thereby uphold the follower, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electrical indicator, the combination, with the follower Iland fan L, geared to it, of the circuit-closing spring V, upheld by said follower when the latter is elevated, and the contact-screw y, adapted'ito receive said spring when dropped by the descent of the follower, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHESTER H. POND. \Vitnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, O. K. Fnasnn. 

